Buffalo City Metro Safa president Prince Sibam has called on soccer loving fans to use the Bafana Bafana international friendly against Angola as a dress-rehearsal for future national teams’ games.
Sibam has called on BCM and greater Eastern Cape soccer fans to fill up the Buffalo City Stadium to capacity for the Tuesday night game (kick-off 7pm).
Safa announced on Sunday that the international friendly would be played in East London – a first for the city as the last time Bafana played in the metro was in a Cosafa Cup.
In the 2003 game against Zimbabwe, Bafana went down 1-0. That team had the likes of Dikgang Mabalane, Gert Schalkwyk and captain of the day, Simphiwe Mkhonza.
This means this will be the first time that overseas-based players like Andile Jali, Thulani Serero and Kermit Erasmus and others that they will be playing in East London.
Sibam called on fans to fill the stadium to capacity. “People should come out in numbers so that we can be able to motivate for more games to be brought here.
“We can also for other national teams like Banyana Banyana and the U23s to come and play here. And if we can fill the stadium, we can also motivate for other tournaments to be brought here because we have two stadiums next to each other,” he said.
If the Chippa United Premier Soccer League games and the Nedbank Cup clash between EC Bees and Orlando Pirates, which were played at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane are anything to go by, Buffalo City Stadium should be packed.
Sibam described the Tuesday game as an exciting opportunity for everyone. “This is a big opportunity for everyone to see Bafana Bafana playing. We would like to thank president Danny Jordaan for being a visionary leader and spreading the national team so that everyone can have access to it.
“Bafana Bafana playing here also encourages the youth to be dedicated in playing soccer because they will see that, they too, can play in the national team,” he said.
BCM mayor Xola Pakati said they were happy when they were approached by Safa to host the game.
“This means that our support for football has not gone unnoticed by football structures,” he said.
The game will also have positive financial spin-offs for the city, the mayor said.
“More people will be coming here which means this will boost our tourism,” said Pakati.
He said they will continue supporting soccer and campaigning to have more top-flight games coming to BCM.
“If we can host Bafana Bafana, then that means we can host any event of that magnitude,” he said
Bafana will first lock horns with Guinea-Bissau on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Tickets are R60 at Computicket, Checkers and Shoprite Checkers.
The 25-man Bafana Bafana team that caretaker Owen da Gama has named for the two friendlies are:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Darren Keet, Shu-Aib Walters
Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Eric Mathoho, Lorenzo Gordinho, Diamond Thopola, Tebogo Langerman
Midfielders: Hlompho Kekana, Thabo Mnyamane, Keagan Dolly, Andile Jali, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Tiyani Mabunda, Dean Furman, Themba Zwane, Thulanoi Serero
Strikers: Percy Tau, Lebohang Manyama, Phakamani Mahlambi, Lars Veldwijk, Kermit Erasmus, Luther Singh.
Bafana are back in EL
Sibam has called on BCM and greater Eastern Cape soccer fans to fill up the Buffalo City Stadium to capacity for the Tuesday night game (kick-off 7pm).
Safa announced on Sunday that the international friendly would be played in East London – a first for the city as the last time Bafana played in the metro was in a Cosafa Cup.
In the 2003 game against Zimbabwe, Bafana went down 1-0. That team had the likes of Dikgang Mabalane, Gert Schalkwyk and captain of the day, Simphiwe Mkhonza.
This means this will be the first time that overseas-based players like Andile Jali, Thulani Serero and Kermit Erasmus and others that they will be playing in East London.
Sibam called on fans to fill the stadium to capacity. “People should come out in numbers so that we can be able to motivate for more games to be brought here.
“We can also for other national teams like Banyana Banyana and the U23s to come and play here. And if we can fill the stadium, we can also motivate for other tournaments to be brought here because we have two stadiums next to each other,” he said.
If the Chippa United Premier Soccer League games and the Nedbank Cup clash between EC Bees and Orlando Pirates, which were played at Sisa Dukashe Stadium in Mdantsane are anything to go by, Buffalo City Stadium should be packed.
Sibam described the Tuesday game as an exciting opportunity for everyone. “This is a big opportunity for everyone to see Bafana Bafana playing. We would like to thank president Danny Jordaan for being a visionary leader and spreading the national team so that everyone can have access to it.
“Bafana Bafana playing here also encourages the youth to be dedicated in playing soccer because they will see that, they too, can play in the national team,” he said.
BCM mayor Xola Pakati said they were happy when they were approached by Safa to host the game.
“This means that our support for football has not gone unnoticed by football structures,” he said.
The game will also have positive financial spin-offs for the city, the mayor said.
“More people will be coming here which means this will boost our tourism,” said Pakati.
He said they will continue supporting soccer and campaigning to have more top-flight games coming to BCM.
“If we can host Bafana Bafana, then that means we can host any event of that magnitude,” he said
Bafana will first lock horns with Guinea-Bissau on Saturday at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.
Tickets are R60 at Computicket, Checkers and Shoprite Checkers.
The 25-man Bafana Bafana team that caretaker Owen da Gama has named for the two friendlies are:
Goalkeepers: Itumeleng Khune, Darren Keet, Shu-Aib Walters
Defenders: Ramahlwe Mphahlele, Rivaldo Coetzee, Thulani Hlatshwayo, Eric Mathoho, Lorenzo Gordinho, Diamond Thopola, Tebogo Langerman
Midfielders: Hlompho Kekana, Thabo Mnyamane, Keagan Dolly, Andile Jali, Kamohelo Mokotjo, Tiyani Mabunda, Dean Furman, Themba Zwane, Thulanoi Serero
Strikers: Percy Tau, Lebohang Manyama, Phakamani Mahlambi, Lars Veldwijk, Kermit Erasmus, Luther Singh.
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